one year anniversary

I've now been in Texas for an entire year~and what an adventure it has been!  Maybe it hasn't been much different from any other year of life, but there's something about changing everything in the outward life that alters one's perspective~both inner/outer.  When everything is new, perhaps it it more memorable.  There's a slight chance that I write a more lengthy and coherent piece later this week.

I am now about hour five into my summer vacation and the temperature is still sweltering, so it's an evening for languid thoughts and light reading.  I did splurge on this gorgeous soap from World Market this afternoon to celebrate both marking the first year and the beginning of a break.

'We do not remember days, we remember moments.'  

~Cesare Pavese

I'll Make a Man Out of You

While it was an interesting week which polished some new skills for me, I am deeply glad to be done with the score of Mulan.  The songs were not that interesting the first rehearsal and after 20 solid hours of the same three songs, I'm ready for some new repertoire!

This is the Kelberg Stage where we did our performances yesterday.  Had a good cardio workout during the second showing when I realized that I was MISSING a page from the score~yes, the page with the wonky rhythms and unintuitive key changes.  And to add to the excitement, the singers decided to gallop through the tempo.

Good times.

The entrance doors to the photos of the big blue theatre I keep posting.  It was locked up, or I would have given myself a tour of the facility.  Maybe I'll volunteer to usher there so that I can see inside this next season.

Incredibly happy flowers flourishing in the sunny heat of this week.

the dinner special

I lied.  I did take a shot of my food from last night.  It was DELISH as one of the Ya-Ya's (reference from  The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood movie) would say.  Have been driving past Aster's for a solid year now and this was my first foray into the place. 

Teensy turquoise shack-like appearing building~complete with lattice for windows and astro-turf for ground covering, serving one of the best meals that I've eaten.  What a happy discovery.

It was also nice to spend more time with friends of friends~while it's a global world, I'm finding it to be interwoven and connected in unexpected ways.

And it is with a bit of relief that I say good-bye to this week of double shifts at the theatre intensives.  It's been good for me, for professional net-working and my bank account, but my soul is ready for a bit of summer break.

whimsy

It's been awhile since I've seen a whimsical bathroom, but during today's rehearsals (we're finally in the actual theatre space, instead of the icky trailers) I found this very fun light above the sink.  Off for Ethiopian food~will most likely spare you photos of that~as delicious as it is, it isn't the most photogenic of foods.

sunshine on my shoulders

Think yesterday was our first official day registering at 100, but I could be wrong.  The point?  It was warm and I have all the shades drawn, but Mr. Bogart perhaps felt a chill in the draft of the ceiling fan and trotted right over to the ONE bit of sun shining into the place and took a snooze.  Perhaps tonight, I can light a fire for him in our new fireplace?

It was a good day; very long with three  separate gigs--on either end of the city.  

Found a nickel in one of the parking lots....and I've learned in Texas to use a piece of fabric/paper to pick up coinage that has been enjoying a sunny day.

Love driving down the tree-filled hill to come home.

Leda or Lohengrin?

 Love these shots that I got while walking around Town Lake yesterday; they look like paintings.

And a penny found.

lovely summer days

Happy little flower poking through the dried mud.

 After almost a full year of Austin living, finally made it out and into Lake Travis.

 Mansfield Dam at the one end.

Love both sun and moon light paths on water.

My new summertime friends!

A view from the Formula something something boat.  All I know is the engine was loud and it went about 60 mph.  And yes!  I did drive it.   And was surprised by how much fun it was~have kinda been a sailing snob.

 Water is quite low this year and it's still the beginning of the summer.

Whimsical pelican on the pier.

tasty

Back at my favorite tapas restaurant just in time for their summer menu.  Was surprised at the deliciousness of fried goat cheese drizzled with honey and crumbled lavender buds!

Madly prepping for Mulan rehearsals commencing on Monday morning.

to impossible blossoms

From Blossoms
~Li-Young Lee

'From blossoms comes
this brown bag of peaches
we bought from the boy
at the bend in the road where we turned toward
signs painted Peaches

From laden boughs, from hands,
from sweet fellowship in the bins,
comes nectar at the roadside, succulent
peaches, we devour, dusty skin and all,
comes the familiar dust of summer, dust we eat.

O, to take what we love inside,
to carry within us an orchard to eat
not only the skin, but the shade,
not only the sugar, but the days, to hold
the fruit in our hands, adore it, then bite into
the round jubilance of peach.

There are days we live
as if death were nowhere
in the background; from joy
to joy to joy, from wing to wing,
from blossom to blossom to
impossible blossom, to sweet impossible blossom.'

Happy first day of Summer ya'll!!  May it be one of jubilance and succulent warm fruit and perhaps the occasional ice-cream.

When was the last time you began your day with swingin' in sunshine?

Now that the move is over, I used a gift certificate to get my car all shined up for the first day of summer.  Eventually, I will tint the windows~pretty sure I'm one of the few cars in Texas without those.

Kept feeling a tickle on my arm while sitting outside & reading and found this friendly little guy.

serenity

 As I object to awful fluorescent lighting in my home, I got some under the counter lights from Home Depot and am rather pleased with the cosiness of the kitchen now.

Also solved the limited cupboard space by channeling my inner New Yorker and lining the tops of the cupboards with Grandma's dishes.  (Yes, poor little Bogart lost his napping spot.)  Also solved the view of the laundry room/cat box (the door couldn't be shut with the cat box and the dryer door) by hanging some curtains that I had stored for the past couple of years.

 One bookshelf unpacked.

 A few photos up.

 That's my apartment on the top--notice the jasmine already draping over the railings.  Those bright green oak leaves are the view from my bedroom.  Am just loving the tranquility of this setting.

Another day, another trail.  With I could capture shots of some of the lizards that I'm startling as I hurtle through the woods.  There is a bright green species that puffs up it's neck in indignation whenever I get too close.  This display of belligerence makes me laugh.

Stunning blossom by the pool today.

Yes, I poked around the roots because it is so perfect that it appears fake.

the finer things

In which Bogart discovers that he likes ice water.

days & decades

How handy to be moving over Father's Day weekend and find treasures from the past!  The above was taken in 1972--not sure which part of the Pacific it is, but it looks a bit breezy.

Jump to 1985; post spring band concert at Laurelwood Academy.

And found one of the three Leslies taken at Willamina~am guessing summer of 78?

And now, the photos you've for which you've been waiting!  Please notice the paper lanterns from last year's Father's Day excursion into SF's Chinatown~they are the perfect amount of light for the computer area.

 Bogart~hoping for a live birdie breakfast.

Because, of course, one wants a working fireplace in Texas.  (and yes, I noted the warped shades in my pre-move-in check list.)

My itsy-bitsy kitchen, while lacking space and a gas stove, has lovely granite counter tops.

 Three guesses at to what this room is....

 Gorgeous walk-in closet~some gaps that are asking to be filled!

 

The all-important ceiling fan.

View from the bedroom sliding door.

Living room door to same balcony.

Waiting for the garden to arrive tomorrow.

Now that the sun has come out, I am scoping out the shaded parking spots.

And best of all?  This path is on the edge of our parking lot!

Teeny bit of a creek.

 Couldn't believe that I had the pool to myself on a warm Sunday morning, but I'm glad that I did.  As I sit in the office, using wi-fi, I count 23 people in this small bit of water!

 Not a bad view for my first day of summer break!

 Going to soak it all in, as next week brings double-day rehearsals for Mulan.

Ahhhhh~the serenity of a lazy warm day.